2015-04-04

I haven't been DAISO ($1 value shop chain) for a while, and when I had a look of their "Handmade" section, I was really surprised that they have variety of beginners' DIY kits. Tiny beading animals, faux leather miniatures, UV resin gel , paper weaving baskets, small needle felt / sheet felt plushies, and more.

I need to confess that I totally ignored the finishing process of the model of the kit. I didn't use cute eye parts and I'd like to make more dreamy cat with long eyelashes...

Yes it was tough challenge for my very first time! I don't know why but my cat plushie became more defiant face like a punk rock girl. I decorated her with a tiny faux pearl necklace, a satin ribbon bow and light brown Swarovski rhinestone eyes. XD

2014-04-30

I got a long-sleeved denim-look-alike relaxing jersey dress on clearance sale. Early summer will come to Tokyo very soon, I'd like to cut-off the sleeves and put stitches for some decoration combined with stopping frays.
As always says, I'm really BAD at sewing and stitching! So I decided to use most simple and basic running stitch for this.

The most important thing is choosing lovely threads. Choose different (or same) colors for each stitch. I use 3 different beautiful color Swedish linen threads.

Start stitching. Tie up the thread, and start stitching from bottom of the sleeve. To hem cut-off sleeves, put one or two whipstitch for stopping frays.

Then start running stitches. I put the first stitch line from inside of the sleeve.

Keep stitching! Don't pull the thread strongly, not to shrink dress fabric. And don't forget to tie up the end of the thread.

It's like Japanese traditional Sashiko technique, but more free-minded and easy.
If you can make it more beautiful, please tidy the stitch lines. If you can't (like me,) I think it's absolutely ok. Enjoy! :)

I don't want to make it being put in the closet forever. An idea had came into my head...maybe I could change the color of it? At first I thought I'd dye it by myself. But then I found famous dye color company DYLON doing dyeing service in Shinsen (only 1 station from Shibuya).

2 weeks ago I went to DYLON COLOR CENTER and chose the color number 11 Bordeaux from "multi" series.

Shop staff was professional of coloring and showed me some samples. She said it can be softer color and remain cute dots of the scarf. The price depends on weight of the fabrics. This scarf costs 3,000yen to dye.

2012-10-26

It's almost Halloween!
You can make easy LED flower in last minutes for nightmare party :)
The technique of making petals are same as jellyfish.
This time I use chemical satin and chiffon. Also these are very flammable! Please take care about that!

Draw and cut 2 circles for each size on satin fabric. And draw and cut a circle each size on chiffon. You'll have 9 circle fabrics.
I'm using wood coaster (it become candle holder later), bracelet, and a flash-light.
Whatever can make circles is ok.

BE CAREFUL!
Light a candle, and hold satin and chiffon circles on your hands to shrink by candle's heat.
Please keep a safe distance from a candle always. This fabric is easy to burn out!
Make it slowly.

Design your flower petals. If you need smaller petal, keep heating it little longer and make it more shrink.

Fun and lazy time to fixing petals.
Stick LED to circle fabrics' center, one by one. Start from smallest one. Both of LED legs must be apart on fabrics (all of fabrics has two holes by LED)
Don't be more lazy! ;D
Stick petals one after another.

Put LED legs down by pliers, angles of ninety degrees.
Longer leg is + (positive electrode), shorter is - (negative electrode).
If you think you'll forget which is which, write on petal back + and - by pencil.
(of course I always forget!!)
Then roll up each legs like small rings carefully.
Now petals are fixed by LED legs.
All the time, LED legs must not contact.

2012-10-23

People asked me how to make jellyfish accessories when I blogged these on 8tokyo. And yes I'm lazy enough..., it was two years ago!! Sorry too late to share this.

How to make them is very simple and easy, but slightly dangerous. Please make it carefully!! Chiffon fabrics "burn" well. and of course candle is hot!
And please keep fresh air into your room while you're making.

2012-05-11

I wanted to get a necklace display stand for a while.
But these are expensive and not so cute always.

I always make cat motif accessories for necocoa Etsy shop, and imagined if fluffy snow white yeti girl (or guy (^_-)) wears these, it may be funny and cute.Then I remember the words... "if you can't find what you want, you can make that!"

It is easier than Halloween Ghost Cat Charm.
Cut the shape of neck stand out, trace the shape to faux-fur and back fabrics.
And cut these out.
Faux-fur should be bigger than cardboard!! (check the pic no.6)

Cut the batting smaller than cardboard, and stick it by double-sided tape (check the pic no.5).
Then put faux-fur on there, turn it back, put double-sided tape around of cardboard to stick the faux-fur.
Back side fabric should be smaller, adjust size with pinking shears on cardboard.
Put some superglue on cardboard, and stick the back fabric. Dry it 1 - 2 days.